Out of the Box Creative Learning programs are designed to motivate and excite creativity, teach historical and literary content and excite the passions, imaginations and energy of learners of all ages.  Both Tammy and Rebecca believe that education through the creative arts taps into the best potential environment for learning all areas of study.  On their own, they used this style of teaching for years before starting a business together in 2008 to support each other and spotlight an effective educational model. 



Rebecca Angel Maxwell

       Rebecca prides herself in encouraging creativity in others.  Her best moments of teaching are seeing students' sparks of imagination grow into proud excitement as they watch their own works come alive.
       Rebecca began teaching private piano lessons and preschool music classes, being the assistant conductor to an a capella chorus and performing with classical choirs over 10 years ago while living in Syracuse.  When her family moved to Albany, she began her studies at SUNY Albany, eventually graduating with a BA in Music (summa cum laude), started a choir, taught music appreciation classes, and held summer Music History camps to the children in local homeschooling groups, GAHLA and HENAA.
     Her own career as a singer/songwriter on vocals, guitar and piano has grown to three albums and regular performances in the Capital District, and along the East Coast.  She is also a composer of electronic music.
     With a minor degree in English, Rebecca is a published essayist, short-story writer, poet and playwright with productions of both children's musical theater and adult plays in the Capital Region and New York City.  She is also a board member of the children's literary magazine 'Skribblers.'
    In addition to teaching, Rebecca is a homeschooling mother of two genius children and wife to a cute molecular biologist.
www.myspace.com/rebeccaangel
www.cdbaby.com/all/rebeccaangel


Tammy Robinson


          As a writer, dancer and choreographer, Tammy Ellis Robinson has been allowing her imagination to fuel her creative efforts and fulfill her goals to have a meaningful impact in her work. Mrs. Robinson has been working with children and adults in the Capital Region since 1992.  From workshops with special needs children in the St. Catherine’s Center to her work at Albany High School, she has worked with a variety of ages and ability levels.  Mrs. Robinson enjoys finding the creative spark that excites the performer and creator in every person.  “There are many avenues for growth and learning that can be achieved with creative self-expression and the exploration of these avenues can enrich both learning and fulfillment.”
          Mrs. Robinson earned a B.A. at Brown University where she concentrated in sociology, and pursued extensive coursework in creative fiction and play writing and dance. While at Brown she performed with Fusion Dance Company studying with Julie Strandberg and Michele Bach.  She explored the art of choreography and dance composition and created original works of dance, performance art as well as choreographing numerous musicals. Mrs. Robinson performed and created original works for the Choreographers’ Asylum and EBA Dance.  As a teacher at Albany High School, Mrs. Robinson developed a dance club and choreographed school performances. Additionally, she danced with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company and danced and taught for EBA Dance Theater and Center for movement.  Mrs. Robinson has taught movement for the New York State Theater Institute as well as choreographed works for Siena College and other local venues working with children from 3-adult.
          Mrs. Robinson holds an M.S. in Special Education and worked at Albany High School for several years where she enjoyed a variety of responsibilities and felt the focus of education should always be the development of each child from the inside out. 
Mrs. Robinson has created and facilitated writing circles and workshops for children in the Capital Region for the past five years and marvels over the honesty and depth of vision to be found even amongst the youngest of writers.  She is the editor and founder of Skribblers Magazine and teaches a variety of writing courses for all ages throughout the school year and during the summer. 
           Mrs. Robinson is a fiction writer and publishes a poetry and short fiction blog.  “Sharing in the creative travels of students always helps to refresh my own view of my writing and my reality.”
           Mrs. Robinson lives in Clifton Park New York with her three children ages 12, 10, and 7 and her husband Dr. L. Oliver Robinson as well as the family pets, Teddy, Mud ball, Snowflake and numerous nameless fish.  It is the spirit of her children that feeds her creative endeavors every day.

www.skribblersmagazine.com
spiralsparks@blogspot.com/html